Ford Explorer Complaints (2002)

3,572 consumer complaints on file.

#10301987January 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS 53,151 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS NOR DID I ABUSE THIS VEHICLE IN ANY WAY. THE FIRST INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WAS THE O/D OFF LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK INTERMITTENTLY. THEN THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND TAKING AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME TO SHIFT GEARS. I HAVE MAINTAINED THIS SUV WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AS WELL AS OTHER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I NEED IT TO COMMUTE TO WORK SO I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER HOTLINE AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY ASSISTANCE: NO COURTESY REPAIR NOR ANY DISCOUNT ON ANOTHER TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT INSTALLED. IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302023January 23, 2010
PARKING BRAKE
2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH DEFECTIVE EMERGENCY BRAKES, THEY PREMATURE CORROSION CAUSING THE PADS TO FALL UP LEAVING SOMEONE WITH OUT A SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM. FROM MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKE TO HAPPENS A LOT AND FORD DOESN'T COVER THEM. I HAVE AN EXPLORER AND ONE WHEEL HAS ONLY ONE PAD LEFT THE OTHER DOESN'T HAVE ANY REMAINING. HAVE NOT FIXED DUE TO THE EXPENSE REPAIR BILL ON SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T GET USED THAT OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301725January 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OD LIGHT FLICKERING. DIAGNOSED AS TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. MANY HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM WITH EXPLORER XLTS AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING BUT MAKE $1000 EACH TIME. CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300471January 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT AND MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER WOULD NOT GO INTO SHIFTING GEAR. IT STARTED BUCKING A LITTLE WHEN I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE O/D LIGHT STARTING BLINKING LIKE CRAZY. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME I COULD ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR. I ONLY HAVE 49,653 MILES ON MY VEHICLE!! MY WARRANTY FOR 6 YEARS IS GONE BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. I WENT ONLINE AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. PLEASE FORCE FORD INTO A RECALL. I BOUGHT THIS NEW AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE HOPING IT WOULD LAST FOR A LONG TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300157January 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER RATTLE FROM TRANS,O/D LIGHT FLASHES WHEN GOING UP A HILL. DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY SOMETIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300072January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FAILURE, HAD DO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 102,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299863January 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODULE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MODULES WERE ON BACK ORDER AND WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR 30 DAYS. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND RAINY DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,277. UPDATED 02/1710 *BF UPDATED 02/19/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299919January 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE O/D LIGHT IS BLINKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299717January 14, 2010
STEERING
2002 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF WHEN PUTTING CAR IN PARK. STEERING COLUMN REPLACED BY DEALER WITH USED PARTS. DEALER RETAINED POSSESSION OF OLD PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299622January 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THERE WAS A NO POWER RESPONSE WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, ON A SEPARATE OCCASION THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,299. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000. UPDATED 2/17/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 02/22/10.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299618January 13, 2010
SUSPENSION:REAR
2002 FORD EXPLORER REAR COIL BREAKAGE.. WAS DRIVING AND MY BACK END DIPPED NO NOISE JUST LEANING. WENT TO MECHANIC AND REALIZED COILS HAVE JUST RUSTED OUT, ARE YOU SERIOUS. EXPLORER ONLY HAS 87K. PARTS JUST RUSTED OUT AND BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298983January 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION - OVERDRIVE SYMBOL FLASHING - NO INDICATION THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO PASS 3RD GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299021January 11, 2010
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLEND DOOR WHICH REGULATES THE HEAT AND THE DEFROST SYSTEMS HAS FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACTUATOR MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE BLEND DOOR. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $650 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS $64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298802January 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION MULTIPLE FAILURE- THIS TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AS DEFECTIVE TWO TIME, FIRST AT AROUND 60,000 MILES THEN AGAIN AT NEAR 150,000 MILES. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED AGAIN, THIS TIME FAILING TO SHIFT WHILE ENTERING A BUSY HIGHWAY THEN ERRATICALLY SLAMMING INTO GEAR THEN REVVING HIGH AND SLIPPING AS TRAFFIC MANEUVERED TO AVOID THE SLOWING VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298763January 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER HAS A SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. MY FORD TRANSMISSION DISSENGAGES WHEN YOU BREAK. THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES I WILL REV THE ENGINE (THINKING THE CAR SHOULD GO FORWARD ) AND THE ENGINES REVS THEN AFTER A DELAYED RESPONSE WILL SLAM THE CAR INTO GEAR AND JERK THE CAR FORWARD. THIS JERK COULD CAUSE ME TO HIT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE SINCE I'M NOT EXPECTING THE CAR TO MAKE THAT RESPONSE. THERE ARE A LARGE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION (SEE REFERENCE BELOW) I THINK NHTSA SHOULD DO AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ISSUE TO SEE IF THERE IS REALLY A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE: REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/2002/TRANSMISSION/ HTTP://WWW.LEMONLAWCLAIMS.COM/2002_FORD_EXPLORER_TRANSMISSION HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/EXPLORER/TRANSMISSION-FAILURE.SHTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298780January 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MY CARS CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN I APPLIED THE FOOTBRAKE, PUSHED THE OFF SWITCH, THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY POLICE AND WHEN IT WAS TESTED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A FAULT IN THE FAILSAFES HOWEVER THEY ARE STILL SUSPICIOUS OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO CALL POLICE AND WAS IN A RUNAWAY CAR ON THE FREEWAY FOR 30MINS. WHEN I HIT A MEDIAN STRIP I LOST ENOUGH SPEED TO BE ABLE TO USE THE LITTLE BRAKING POWER I HAD LEFT, AS EACH TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE ENGINE WOULD ACCELERATE BACK TO THE SET SPED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PUSH. WHEN I STOPPED I ALSO PULLED THE HANDBRAKE AS ORDERED BY THE POLICE OVER THE PHONE TO AVOID A HEADON, THE LEFT SHOE OF THE HANDBRAKE SNAPPED AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP. THE POLICE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY WHEN THEY DID TESTING. SO I'VE BEEN TOLD ANY FAULT CODES OR FAULTS EITHER WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OR THE ECU MAY NOW BE LOST. FORD ARE CLAIMING THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN, BUT IM STARTING TO READ ON OTHER SITES THE SAME THINGS ARE HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE. I COULD BE DEAD ALONG WITH ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT DAY. THE POLICE ALSO HAD ISSUES MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT THAT DAY ON MY CAR TO GET IT ONTO A TOW TRUCK, SO ITS NOT JUST THE DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10298781January 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SPUTTERS AND JERKS IN THIRD GEAR AROUND 40MPH. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 108,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS MY SECOND DAY DRIVING IT, AND I'M WORRIED I JUST WASTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS! FROM ALL THE CONSUMER WEBSITES I HAVE READ FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. PLEASE RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION AND MAKE FORD FIX MY CAR. LUCKILY THERE'S A "LEMON LAW" IN MY STATE AND THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM WILL HAVE TO HELP ME OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298654January 7, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE STARTED TO SOUND EXTREMELY LOUD AND SPITTING SMOKE I PULLED OVER AND AFTER INSPECTION OF THE MOTOR I FOUND A SPARK PLUG LAYING ONTOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE COIL LAYING NEXT TO IT. THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE THREADING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE TO ME IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER MY WARRANTY FROM USED CAR DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPLETE MOTOR WITH A NEW ONE. AND THE CURRENT INCIDENT HAPPENED TODAY AND PER MY MECHANIC HE IS GOING TO PUT IN A HELICOIL TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298437January 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING ON A RESPONSE REGARDING THE REPAIR. HE CONTACT FEELS THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298439January 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO,MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FLASH WARNING LIGHTS,"CHECK TRANSMISSION",O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON.TRANSMISSION ALSO STARTED TO SURGE AND SLOW DOWN.I REACHED A SPOT WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE MANUAL SAID TO SEE THE FORD DEALER,IN WHICH I DID.THEY ACTED AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID "HE WOULD HAVE TO HOOK IT UP TO A COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS"($200.00)THE TOLD ME I NEEDED A"NEW TRANSMISSION.($2,500.00).THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE"AUTOBEEF" WEBSITE I FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR YEARS! I CALLED OTHER FORD DEALERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD SAY. THEY ALL WANTED ME TO BRING IT IN AND PUT IT ON THEIR COMPUTERS. (AROUND$200.00)I'M GLAD I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY WIFE! I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FORD TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION? THEY CONTINUE TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND CHARGE YOU A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO CHECK IT OUT."REAL GOOD SCAM". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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